Staff Technical Program Manager - Paint

Rivian•Normal, IL

9d•Hybrid

About The Position

Rivian is seeking a highly organized and results-oriented Technical Program Manager to drive the successful execution of complex, high-impact programs, typically exceeding $50M. In this role, you will be instrumental in defining, maintaining, and delivering program scope, schedule, and budget, ensuring alignment across cross-functional teams and external partners. You will foster strong working relationships, proactively manage risks, and establish clear communication channels to ensure program success and contribute to Rivian's mission of redefining sustainable transportation and energy. This role is located at our Normal, IL/Plymouth, MI or Atlanta, GA facility and reports directly to a Director, Manufacturing Engineering.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, or a related technical field.
7+ years' experience managing complex programs with budgets exceeding $50M, demonstrating successful delivery within scope, schedule, and budget.
Strong skills in defining and maintaining program/project scope throughout the project lifecycle.
Demonstrated ability to build strong working relationships and partnerships with both internal and external teams.
Excellent communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
Experience working effectively with external vendors and suppliers.
Ability to work independently and drive results in a fast-paced environment.
Experience setting up and utilizing program management tools for task tracking and documentation (e.g., JIRA, Confluence, or similar).
Strong organizational skills and the ability to align teams around common processes and communication methods.
Proven ability to take vague goals and develop specific action plans to address immediate challenges.
Experience identifying and escalating cross-functional dependencies and resource needs.

Nice To Haves

Experience in the automotive or manufacturing industry.
Familiarity with new product introduction (NPI) processes.
Experience with risk management methodologies and tools.

Responsibilities

Own and develop comprehensive program plans, including scope definition and maintenance, detailed schedules with critical milestones and gates (looking 1-3 years out for new product launches), and robust budget and resource planning for programs >$50M.
Regularly report on program status, demonstrating measured success in schedule, budget, and scope delivery.
Cultivate strong partnerships with internal engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, and other relevant teams, as well as external vendors and suppliers.
Proactively identify and document the needs and outputs of cross-functional teams to ensure seamless collaboration.
Represent Rivian effectively in interactions with external partners, demonstrating autonomy and driving program success.
Foster a collaborative and high-performing team environment, becoming a recognized leader and a vital part of the working team.
Facilitate smooth interactions and effectively manage interpersonal dynamics to minimize disruptions.
Leverage the manufacturing plan of record to set expectations with cross-functional partners.
Identify, document, and manage risks at the program level, developing and implementing mitigation strategies to ensure on-time and within-budget delivery.
Create and maintain detailed program plans for new product launches with a 1-3 year horizon, clearly outlining critical milestones and gates.
Establish and manage systems for action tracking (e.g., JIRA) and documentation (e.g., ACC, Google Drive) from the ground up.
Develop and deliver clear and concise program status reports on a regular basis, ensuring accuracy and requiring minimal correction.
Align the team around consistent methods of organization and communication.
Take ambiguous goals and translate them into specific, actionable tasks for firefighting and burn-down activities, assisting technical leads in prioritizing competing projects.
Proactively identify areas where cross-functional support is needed and effectively leverage partnerships to secure the necessary resources for issue resolution.